Best Chinese smartphones to buy between $100-$200

About a year back, if you had to buy a smartphone under $200, you didn’t have many options. Most of the times, you had to settle for something boring or slow in order to fit your budget. However, things have changed in the past few months with notable manufacturers as well as Chinese counterparts releasing some interesting smartphones with good hardware. You no longer have to settle for slow devices as most of these phones feature at least a quad-core processor with 1GB RAM to keep things running.

Hence, today we decided to take a look at the Best Chinese smartphones that you can buy between $100-$200. We have already covered an article on the best phones under $100, so if you are looking for something cheaper, make sure you check out that post later. We have added some bang for the buck phones in the list, so you won’t be disappointed.

Coming back here, this list contains a total of 9 smartphones and we have arranged them in the increasing order of price. The list includes the latest launches like the Elephone P6000 as well as old flagships, which can still be considered as a good buy, thanks to its mid-range specs.

Anyways, lets not waste any more time and look at the Best Chinese Smartphones to buy between $100-$200.

1. CUBOT X9

First up in the list is the Cubot X9. This particular company has made it to our best phones list most of the time, thanks to its extremely affordable price tag with good specifications. This is the exact reason why the Cubot X9 made it this list this time too. Unlike other sub $150 phones which feature old quad-core Mediatek processors with average specs, this particular device makes sure that you get the best for what you pay.

The Cubot x9 is powered by an octa-core 1.4GHZ MTK6592M processor with 2GB RAM and Mali-450MP GPU. The processor and the RAM will make sure everything runs smoothly on the device. There’s 16GB of on board storage which can be further expanded up to 64GB using a MicroSD card. On the front, is a 5-inch 720p HD resolution IPS display. The rear camera measures 13MP and comes with LED Flash and AutoFocus while the front camera is of 8MP. Standard connectivity features include Gravity, light, promixity sensors, GPS, HotKnot, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GSM+WCDMA network support etc. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support 4G LTE networks which is kind of disappointing for those who would have liked to take advantage of the ultra-fast download speeds. There’s a 2,200 mAh battery onboard which should be enough for a day’s usage.

In spite of its cheap price tag, the device looks and feels premium. It just measures 6.9mm in thickness, and weighs just 124 grams. Cubot X9 comes with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box.

2. MPIE G7

NOTE: THIS PHONE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

The second phone in the list is the MPIE G7. This particular device may not be as powerful as the Cubot x9, however it comes with one particular feature that the X9 lacks– 4G LTE support. Yes, at just $132, the G7 supports 4G FDD LTE networks which means you can take advantage of high speed network on an affordable smartphone. Moreover, you have a fingerprint sensor too at the back, making it one of the cheapest phones to have this feature.

The MPIE G7 comes with a 5-inch 960 x 540 (qHD) resolution display. Inside, you have the standard MTK6582 quad-core processor much like other phones in this range but you get 2GB RAM on board which should make multitasking a lot better on this phone. As for internal memory, there is 8GB storage on board which can be expanded up to 64GB via MicroSD. Other network connectivity features include Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz + WCDMA 850/1900/2100MHz + FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz network band support.

The device is quite thin too and measures just 7mm in thickness. There’s 2,200 mAh battery on board which is also pretty decent for a 5-inch phone, provided you don’t use 4G LTE throughout the day.

Overall the device is a good buy for those looking to take advantage of 4G LTE networks. You can purchase the MPIE G7 directly from GearBest for $148, however, for a limited period, the phone is available for just $131.99 with the coupon from discountion.com.

3. Cubot Zorro 001

NOTE: THIS PHONE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

One of the biggest reasons for Chinese manufacturers to use Mediatek SoCs instead of Qualcomm is their cheap price. But for those, who don’t trust Mediatek processor or prefer Qualcomm processors, the Cubot Zorro 001 is probably the best buy. It comes with a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB on board memory which can be expanded with MicroSD up to 32GB. On the front lies a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The rear camera measures 8MP while the front shooter is of 2MP. The Zorro 001 supports a wide variety of network bands including the high speed LTE connections. The exact frequency supported by the device is as follows: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA 900/2100MHz and LTE-FDD 800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz. Once again for battery, you have a 2,200 mAh capacity one inside, which is pretty much what you get in other phones in this price range.

So, the Cubot Zorro 001 comes out as a pretty good device for those looking for a Qualcomm based smartphone with FDD-LTE network support.

4. Elephone P6000

Like Cubot, Elephone is yet another Chinese brand specializing in cheap feature smartphones. We have reviewed a lot of smartphones from the company lately and most of them have managed to impress us especially for the price that it retails for. The latest Elephone P6000 is another Elephone masterpiece blending in the perfect match of features and specs for a very attractive price tag.

Elephone P6000 makes it to the list because it comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop OS. Software is something that Chinese companies generally ignore but this particular feature comes out as the highlight of the device. Given that the phone is relatively new, you have a new Mediatek processor as well. Inside, the Elephone P6000 features a 64-bit MTK6732 quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz along with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory. Like all other phones in the list, Elephone P6000 supports external memory cards too. There is a 5.0-inch 1280 x 720 pixel resolution display up front. Along with the standard connectivity features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, the phone also supports FDD-LTE networks. As a result, you can take advantage of the high speed network connection available in your country on this phone. The exact network bands supported by the phone is as follows: GSM 800/900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA 900/2100MHz and FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz.

There is a 13MP camera with LED flash at the back and a 2MP shooter up front. The battery is also pretty decent and at 2700 mAh, you should be able to use the phone for an entire day with some 4G usage.

5. No.1 Mi4

NOTE: THIS PHONE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Those who love the Xiaomi Mi4’s design but are not willing to spend as much as $350 on a phone can take a look at the No.1 Mi4 smartphone. This particular device is an exact clone of the Xiaomi Mi4 but cuts down on the cost by featuring mid-range specifications. We have already reviewed the device and it turned out to be a great mid-range smartphone which is why the phone made it to this list.

The phone comes with a 5-inch 720p HD OGS Display. Inside, a Mediatek MT6582 quad-core processor powers the device along with 1GB RAM and 16GB onboard memory. At the back lies the 8MP camera while up front lies a 5MP shooter. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat OS. There’s a 2250 mAh battery which powers all these specs, which may be small by today’s standards. But no 4G LTE connectivity and a 5-inch display won’t consume too much power, so it should make it through the day.

Usually, the No.1 Mi4 retails for around $150, but for a limited period, you can get the device for just $139.99 using a coupon from discountion.com. From our research this is the best deal we could find for the product.

6. Xiaomi Redmi 1S

Those who are looking for a more trusted brand, can go for the Redmi 1S smartphone which has been one of the best selling phones in the market today. The phone comes with a 4.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels translating into a pixel density of 326 ppi. Inside, the 1S is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz with 1GB RAM onboard. There’s 8GB internal storage which can be further expanded up to 32GB via MicroSD card. The rear f/2.2 aperture camera of 8MP clicks pretty good pictures. On the front, there is a 1.6MP shooter. All these features are powered by a 2000 mAh battery. The phone does not support LTE networks but other than that it comes out as a great package.

At present, one sure shot way to purchase the device is through Oppomart who retails it for $149. You can purchase it directly from Xiaomi if the company sells in your country. But even that requires per-registeration and some luck, so if you don’t want to rely on both, Oppomart comes out as a good option.

7. Huawei Honor 3C

NOTE: THIS PHONE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Like the Xiaomi Redmi 1S, the Honor 3C is another mid-range smartphone from a well known company. In fact, according to a recent report, 2014 went very well for the company as sales increased by over 33%, thanks to smartphones like the Huawei Honor 6 and the Ascend Mate 7.

While the Honor 3C doesn’t feature mind-blowing specs, the device is good enough for your daily needs. Up front, you have a 5-inch 720p display. The device is powered by a 1.3GHz quad core MT6582 processor with 1GB RAM and 16GB ROM. You can further expand this via MicroSD up to 32GB. There’s an 8MP camera at the back along with a 2MP shooter up front. Unfortunately, the phone runs on an old Android 4.2 version, but it is said that the KitKat update is coming soon. For battery, you have a 2000 mAh one onboard the device. Again no LTE support, so you will have to be happy with 3G network speeds.

Although a bit costlier than its regular price, you can get the Huawei Honor 3C directly from Oppomart for $159.

8. Elephone P3000S

NOTE: THIS PHONE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

If you are looking for a phone that has 4G LTE, Octa-core processor as well as a large battery to support these features, then take a look at the new Elephone P3000S smartphone. The device brings in the best of all the features at a price that is considered affordable. What’s more, you have a fingerprint sensor at the back too which can unlock and secure your files inside the device.

The device is powered by an octa-core MT6592 processor clocked at 1.7GHz with 2GB RAM and 16GB onboard storage. Further, you have a MicroSD card slot to expand this memory. The P3000S model features a 5-inch IPS display with an HD 720p resolution. There’s an 13MP camera at the back along with an 8MP shooter up front.

The highlight of the device is its FDD-LTE support which brings ultra-high speed browsing at your hands. The phone supports GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz and FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz network bands. The best part about the device is its 3150 mAh battery which is much larger than any other phone that supports LTE bands at this price range.

In fact, we have a coupon using which you can get the device for just $171.99. Usually, you will have to shell out around $190+ for this phone, but use the coupon from discountion.com to get it at this amazing price.

9. Redmi Note 4G

If you are willing to shell out a little more, then you can go for Xiaomi’s Redmi 4G model. The advantage of this phone over Elephone P3000S is that it features a 5.5-inch display but with the same resolution i.e. 1280 x 720p. So, for the larger resolution you have a less crispy screen.

Also, the phone comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.6GHz with 2GB RAM, 8GB expandable memory and Adreno 305 GPU. There’s a 13MP camera at the back along with a 5MP shooter up front. It comes with Android 4.4 KitKat OS with the popular MIUI V5.0 UI on top. The Redmi Note 4G has a 3100 mAh battery and the battery life should be similar to Elephone P3000S.

In case you are wondering, the supported network bands are as follows: GSM 900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA 900/2100MHz and FDD LTE 1800/2100/2600MHz.

The Red mi Note 4G is available from Oppomart for $199. Head over to their website for more details.

As you can see, you have some great options for under $200. If we had to pick one phone that comes out as the best value for the price, then it would be the Elephone P3000S. But if you want to buy a phone a bit cheaper, then all the other options listed in the article are good. They have good specs which will make sure that the phone runs without hiccups and comes at a very affordable price.

Would you like to add a phone to list? Feel free to tell us via the comments section below.